they didn't have rotary cutters in the 1800's and made beautiful quilts....

my first quilt I used scissors and templates, it turned out fine... I do love my rotary cutter and use it most all the time when cutting fabric... and have put sand paper dots on my rulers to get them not to move while cutting...

it's really a matter of choice... I have seen a quilt you made and it was so cool... I wouldn't worry too much about what a magazine tells you you need, you seem to have the knack....

But I am one that likes accuracy - and you can achieve that with the rotary cutter - it speeds up your cutting time and makes it so you can mass cut several layers fabric accurately - I find that templates have a tendency to loose there shape after a few tracings - BUT - there are times that you have to use a template -

If you are afraid of slipping and cutting yourself - get one of those Klutz gloves - they are made with fabric that stops the blade from cutting through to you.

Also, Invisigrip helps your rulers from sliding - it creates a little more friction on your fabric - so when you hold down the ruler - it tends not to slip and move as much - these both might help you.

I don't like using it because it doesn't seem to work for me. My rotary cutter can barely cut through one layer. It will cut some parts and not others, making me have to go back and re-cut making the edges all jagged.

also, make sure you don't have 2 blades in there. I know it sounds silly but I put a new blade in one time, and I tried and tried and tried to cut, but with the same results as MissSongBird. Then I saw a show with Alex Anderson where she described the exact same thing and come to find out she had accidentally picked up 2 blades and put them in. So, I took my cutter apart and what did I find? 2 blades. They seem to be so thin that if you aren't paying really close attention, you could pick up 2 and not realize it. After you take one out, it cuts like a breeze.

Ok, well when I went to go get fabric from my aunt last night she gave me some blades, because I had told her before that I was having trouble with my rotary cutter. I going to try them out (the next time I cut fabric...which should be in a few days).

ok.. new question... are you pushing hard enough on the cutter to cut... the reason I ask is because I gave my aunt a cutter and showed her how to use it and she didn't even put pressure on it so her fabric didn't cut...

I have a 4' by 5' mat on my quilt table, I have all my rulers lined on the under side with the invisagrip and I don't have any problems with the material slipping under the ruler. A new blade just might be the ticket. I tried that suction cup handle thing and it didn't work for me, I just wasted $18.00 on the thing.

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